Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2026 Supreme(Online)(CAT) 1500

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
Rajinder Singh Dogra, Judicial Member, Ram Mohan Johri, Accountant Member
Sharshti Kumar – Appellant
Versus
Union of India – Respondent
OA 814/2020|OA 812/2020

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: K.B. Sharma
For the Respondents: Prem Sadotra

Financial up-gradation benefits under career progression schemes are determined by the promotional hierarchy. The administrative merger of pay scales cannot be used to nullify accrued entitlements or restrict progression, and judicial consistency necessitates that identical service law disputes be decided in alignment with settled coordinate bench precedents.

Headnote:(A) Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 - Section 19 - Service Law - Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme (1999) - Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme (2009) - Financial up-gradations - Employees claimed entitlement to 2nd ACP in higher grade pay on completion of 24 years of service and 3rd MACP on completion of 30 years - Respondents denied benefits citing merger of pay scales and internal departmental instructions - Held, merger of pay scales cannot nullify accrued benefits under ACP which remained operative until 31.08.2008 - Financial up-gradations must be granted in promotional hierarchy regardless of pay scale mergers - Denial of benefits despite consistent judicial precedents on identical issues constitutes arbitrary and discriminatory practice. (Paras 2, 7, 8, 12, 16)

(B) Judicial Discipline - Consistency and Precedent - When a coordinate bench of the Tribunal has settled a legal issue based on identical facts, it is imperative to follow the same view to maintain consistency and avoid discriminatory treatment of similarly situated employees, unless the decision is challenged or stayed by a higher forum. (Paras 12, 14, 15)

Facts of the case:
Applicants, initial appointees in unskilled or semi-skilled roles, sought financial up-gradations under ACP and MACP schemes. Following the implementation of pay commission recommendations, their pay scales were merged, leading respondents to deny the 2nd ACP in a higher grade pay and the subsequent 3rd MACP. Despite multiple administrative clarifications supporting the employees' entitlement, applications were rejected via speaking orders based on internal correspondence.

Findings of Court:
The court concluded that the ACP scheme remained operational until 31.08.2008 and that benefits accrued during this period must be provided. It found that the merger of posts does not preclude financial up-gradations in the promotional hierarchy and that consistent judicial pronouncements support the applicants' claims. Consequently, the impugned rejection orders were declared unsustainable.

Issues: Whether employees who completed the requisite length of service prior to the operational cut-off of the ACP scheme are entitled to 2nd ACP in the higher grade pay, and whether subsequent 3rd MACP is admissible given the merger of pay scales.

Ratio Decidendi: Financial up-gradation schemes are intended to provide relief against stagnation, and administrative merger of pay scales cannot be utilized to deny the rightful promotional hierarchy benefits when service conditions are met. Judicial consistency requires upholding settled legal interpretations over conflicting internal executive orders.

Result: Original Applications allowed; impugned speaking orders quashed; respondents directed to grant applicable financial up-gradations and arrears within three months.

Table of Content
1. applicants seek judicial redress against denial of acp/macp benefits. (Para 1 , 2)
2. respondents justify denial based on departmental policy and organizational distinction. (Para 3)
3. consolidation of oas concerning uniform claims for financial upgradation. (Para 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9)
4. binding judicial precedent of coordinate bench mandates parity in benefits. (Para 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15)
5. court orders granting specific financial upgradations with limitation on arrears. (Para 16 , 17 , 18)

OA 814/2020

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2026 Supreme(Online)(CAT) 1500

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALRajinder Singh Dogra, Judicial Member, Ram Mohan Johri, Accountant MemberSharshti Kumar – AppellantVersusUnion of India – RespondentOA 814/2020|OA 812/2020

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
Rajinder Singh Dogra, Judicial Member, Ram Mohan Johri, Accountant Member
Sharshti Kumar – Appellant
Versus
Union of India – Respondent
OA 814/2020|OA 812/2020